Don't Faint! Week 25

 

This is going to be a little long, but I really need to post today.  I have had the past couple of weeks to sit back, relax, reflect and regroup.  Regrouping is still an ongoing process but I am ready to post a bit about all of that.

But before I get into my deepest feelings today, I want to show you, I have been busy with my needles.

First up.............toe socks

Last time I posted, these were in progress.  Since then, they are completed as well as another pair.  This is such a great project to take along with me while sitting in waiting rooms.  I have enough of these socks now, so will start back to making some RCR for myself.  Also, great waiting room knitting.

I had a request from Tiffany for another Azel poncho

This is the third one I have made for her.  Working with fun fur and size 13 needles is not for the faint of heart.  However, I did enjoy doing the striping on this.  It is knitted in one piece other than the cowl neck. Super easy.  

The buttons are so hard to see with all the fur.  But she really wanted buttons with bling.  Sewing these on was a challenge too.  Not thinking I will be working with fun fur anytime soon.

It looks like a blanket when folded up.  I will say, my legs stayed nice and warm while working on this.

I found something at Costco right after Thanksgiving that gave me great joy.

A puzzle Advent calendar!  Each little puzzle is only 50 pieces so perfect to work each day.

Remember the sea turtle blanket?  Remember how I did not like the puffy turtle?  I fixed it!

I simply used the bottom of the turtle for the top shell.  Easy peasy!  And , here it is in all it's glory.

I don't know where the work 'throw' got put on this pattern as this fits my daughters queen sized bed perfectly!  I really enjoyed making the blanket portions.  Making the appliques was not too bad either.  Sewing them on.............not my favorite project.  Will I make another one?  Probably not.

After all the 'commissioned' items were completed, I pulled out my shawl

Oh, how I love this pattern.  It is the perfect shawl for our Arizona climate.  This will be my fourth shawl in this pattern and I have the yarn to make a fifth one when this one is completed.  I wore one of them yesterday during Mass.  It kept the A/C from blowing down my neck.  Yes, we still have A/C going here with our daytime temps still getting up near 80!  No, this is not normal!

I have done a small amount of decorating for Christmas.

The little mice are new this year.  They make me smile each time I walk by them.

The tree is up and decorated.  And, that is all I did on the inside of the house.  Hubby has decorated the front yard but no photos of that to show.

We did have our front yard landscaped after Thanksgiving.  We added 2 trees, 6 lantana and 10 bougainvillea.  A watering system was added too, to make life a bit easier for my husband who goes out and waters our bushes every couple of days.  When spring hits and our front yard is in bloom, I will take a photo and post it for you to see.  I am so excited to finally have lots of color added to my yard.  We now have 'curb appeal'.

Now, on to my personal life news.  If you do not want to read it, that's ok.  But this will give you a bit of insight as to why I have slowed down on blogging.

Jaxon is doing quite well.  Her skin graft it healing nicely.  She is going to have some nasty scaring on her leg, but at least she has her leg and her life.  The same can not be said about her boyfriend who accidently hit her with his motorcycle. RIP

I was able to increase my injections for my RA!  Since I have been infection free for over 9 months, she has allowed me to up my injections to every other week!  What a difference that has made in my mobility and pain.  She has also prescribed physical therapy to help improve my lower extremity strength, mobility and balance.  I start right after the first of the year.  Believe it or not, I am really looking forward to it.  It has been way too long since I have been able to get on the floor and back up again.  Or even get off of some sofas that sit too low.  Climbing stairs is also an issue.  I am just a hot mess when it comes to some of my mobility.

An now, for the news that is not the greatest.

Josh had another MRI this past week and there are 2 new spots on his brain.  Until there is a biopsy we will not know if they are a recurrence of his cancer or radiation necrosis.  This was not the news we wanted to hear the week before Christmas.  Or anytime, for that matter.  Thankfully, he does not have any new symptoms which gives us a little hope it is from radiation.  But, with the type of cancer he has,(Glioblastoma) it could well be a recurrence.  There are a couple of new trials he is eligible for if this is the returning of his cancer.  This gives us hope.  The last trial he had was last year at this time.  It totally slowed the growth of his tumor down and even has extended his life past the time normally expected.  It breaks this mama's heart to see her first born going through all of this.  Watching his wife and daughter dealing with the fact his life is eventually going to be taken by this dreaded disease is gut wrenching.  Seeing his siblings gathering for family days and photos worried it could be the last milestone for them to witness, hard to watch.  This has all been heavy on my mind and heart.  There are tears being shed in private as I try and be strong for the rest of the family.  My faith has not waivered but there have been a few times where I just want to scream "why him, God".  We just lost a very dear friend at Thanksgiving to this dreaded disease.  A good man.  A righteous man.  A man of great faith.  It all hit way to close to home.  Yet, each day, I wake up, put one foot infront of the other and carry on with the life I have been given.  A wise person once said, we only die once but we live each day.  And as Josh keeps telling me, "I am not dieing of cancer but living with cancer".  A wise son I have raised.

Our family Thanksgiving day photo.  Love this family of mine!

And now to lighten the mood a bit...............................

I will be making Snickerdoodle cookies today for our Christmas gathering.  Luckily my dog is to darn short to be able to reach them.  LOL

Until Next Time.......................Happy Crafting, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah etc!